After about 3 weeks and with no signs of the symptoms getting any better, I decided to have one pill at night (300mg strength). Immediately symptoms went away. I didnt want to take it again, but I was at my wits end to be honest. I have gone down from 14 pills (six different types of meds) to 3 pills a day ' 1 slow release Tramadol twice daily and this bloody Gabapentin at night. I am coping well with this at the moment, but it wont help when I have a flare up. I will try again to wean myself off them in a couple of weeks.
Hi, I have been taking 300 x 3 mg of gabapentin for at least a year and have been taking the drug since 2011 albeit originally lower dosage. I have gained 4 stone in weight and have noticed that even though on strict diet weight was not coming off so I did research and have spoken to people who when they stopped taking the medication their weight started to reduce. I stopped taking this drug on Sunday I spoke to my doctor on Monday and he said try and see how you feel ! Today at work I started to feel strange hot flushes etc. This evening I almost fainted and had to put myself on the floor before I passed out! So I am guessing this means it must be a withdrawal from the medication!. I was taking this pain killer as I have lower back disc problems resulting from a bad car crash I actually had years ago. I have not noticed any increase in pain in my legs just the horrible restless sleepless nights and then nearly fainting and my legs going beneath me! I am now worried as yes I lost weight this week but not sure how I should then tackle the withdrawal symptoms. Do I go back on the drug cutting down to two tablets three times a day for a week then down further. Any response from anyone would be helpful. Thanks
Hi, I have been taking 300 x 3 mg of gabapentin for at least a year and have been taking the drug since 2011 albeit originally lower dosage. I have gained 4 stone in weight and have noticed that even though on strict diet weight was not coming off so I did research and have spoken to people who when they stopped taking the medication their weight started to reduce. I stopped taking this drug on Sunday I spoke to my doctor on Monday and he said try and see how you feel ! Today at work I started to feel strange hot flushes etc. This evening I almost fainted and had to put myself on the floor before I passed out! So I am guessing this means it must be a withdrawal from the medication!. I was taking this pain killer as I have lower back disc problems resulting from a bad car crash I actually had years ago. I have not noticed any increase in pain in my legs just the horrible restless sleepless nights and then nearly fainting and my legs going beneath me! I am now worried as yes I lost weight this week but not sure how I should then tackle the withdrawal symptoms. Do I go back on the drug cutting down to two tablets three times a day for a week then down further. Any response from anyone reading this would be helpful. Lost faith in doctors!! Thanks
Yip this is exactly what it does. It works well for brain receptors to stop the impulses to the brain. It is an epilepsy drug after all. But you are absolutely right withdrawal symptoms are worse than heroine withdrawals.
Would suggest reduction of 100mg per week. I have been on this drug for approximately three years plus others. .......actually you name it I've probably been prescribed it. Gab is not the nicest drug but it will stop the pain only thing is you have to keep increasing the dose because the body like most drugs adapts and always needs more....not a good thing.
I reiterate. .yes it is a lot but it was the doctors prescribing it. The body adapt s to it and requires more and more and more...same as any painkiller. ..morphine included. Reduction should be done slowly. Approx ,100mg per week and that still has side effects. No way around it. **
Yip I understand completely. At the beginning of my disease three years ago I was on 30 assorted medicines per day. I've had it with gab just want my brain back. Reducing 100mg per week and still get side effects. Hey good luck not nice being in pain and losing faith in doctors who have never even taken these mind and body altering drugs. **
Hi Janet I know this thread is a couple of months old but I wondered how your hubby is getting on. This drug is horrible to withdraw from. I have cold turkeyed from diazepam and tramadol which was horrible but to me this was much worse. At least with opiates you know it's five days of hell then you start to get better with this the mental anguish is horrible. I still have burning eyes and mouth even though the drug must be well out of my system by now. I had to go off cold turkey because the headaches it gave me were unbearable. Take care. Jo
Hi all and thank you . I am on also on 3x300mg 3 times a day and wish to come off as it no longer seems to give me any help. From previous drugs I know it has to be a slow withdrawl,but was unsure how slow. So Ive decided i will try reducing 300mg a day for the first week to ten days and then another and so on .Hoping this will be slow enough BUT if not then will deal with things as they come . I hate coming off any meds like these as there always seems to be some sort of withdrawl ..still here goes
Thank you for writing this. I have been on gab three years different doses. Ending up on 1200mg per day. As my body adapted I continually needed more and more. Doctors do not let u know side effects of these drugs. Best to always Google any new medication. I reduced at 100mg per week. However on reflection 50mg per week would be better.
Try only 50mg per week it less ons the side effects. I am on 200mg now but for three years was on 1200mg per day plus 40mg morphine plus other medications. Took me a month to stop morphine but 12-14 weeks to get to 200mg gabapenton still reducing now. Great though!!!
Yip its the gab only doctors won't tell you that. Every drug has side effects unfortunately all of us have required them for pain management. Believe in yourself and search out through google and chat rooms to find similar people with similar experiences. Cheers
Hi, sorry for the late reply. Yeah, I'd suggest you (or anyone) going back on it, then tapering off more slowly. You may have resolved the issue by now, since it's been awhile. Again, sorry 'bout that.
I have been taking gabapentin 3 X 600mg. This is as a mood stabilizer. Been taking it many years. I need to discontinue, so I will be following this thread.
I have been told and read in the patient notes that sudden withdrawal is dangerous- so F*** know how a bunch of consultant surgeons don't know about it. Sue.
How did it go? I'm looking at years of taking this drug at a higher dose. 3600mgs a day. What have the long term problems if a ny been? Thanks.
I've been taking 3,000mgs of gabapentin for the past 13 years. Needless to say I've been through this thing long enough to realize I'm scared for my life to stop taking this drug. I've tried before and tried again and realized it's just not going to happen. Which is a shame because I've experienced withdrawals and I've experienced all the side effects that come along with it but at the same time as my lifesaver because I can't go without it. Personally I feel if I ever truly wanted to take the right steps to get off this drug I would have to go to a hospital and they would have to keep me in a padded cell like a year or two. Again I take it every day and everything's fine but trying to come off as rude tell me at this point after all these years is damn near impossible.
Reading back over the various responses on this topic, it would seem that a reduction of 50 mg per week should be OK. That's what I'm going to try.
At that rate, after 36 weeks I would be off gabapentin.
Dont get disheartened though if it doesnt work first time. I did it much too quickly thinking how hard can it be! It can be done. Good luck!
I have been taking Gabapentin for 17 years . 2400 mg a day. I have had repeated head trauma and severe migraine headaches. I am probably going to be on this the rest of my life. It is also anti seizure medicine. I too tried to get off it many times. Sometimes I take a medication holiday. After. Being on it for such a long time,at a high dose, I am unable to come off it. The doc did tell me when he put me on it I. Would be on it for the rest of my life. While my migraines are still severe and the neurologist is at his wits end. I just do the best I can. I wish you the best of luck.